Twelve scholastic boys and girls basketball teams from The Morning Call circulation area will march to the firing line tonight for the first round of PIAA interdistrict competition spread over four classes.

There's one head coach who certainly is well aware his troops face an extremely strong challenge.

Bob Schlosser will send his District 11 Class AAA boys champion Allentown Central Catholic Vikings into battle against Central York at 8:30 in Liberty's Memorial Gymnasium, and the coach said he got quite an eyefull when he scouted the Panthers this past Saturday.

"It looks like we really have drawn a tough opponent for an interdistrict opener," Schlosser said yesterday. "Central York has size and speed and there is no question we are going to have our hands full.

"Like us, they are an up-tempo team that loves to run," Schlosser continued. "So look for a high-scoring game. Also, I do not see any weaknesses in their starting lineup. They are the District 3's fifth team but that certainly is misleading.

"It so happens they were ranked that far down because they were upset by Warwick in the opening round of their district playoffs," Schlosser explained. "Now they are back in stride and were most convincing in their win over East Pennsboro Saturday."

Schlosser said Central York, which has a 22-8 record, boasts two particularly fine players in Bob Keller, a 6-foot-6 center, and Matt Baker, the team leader who handles the ball well and is an excellent shooter. Baker is small but has played a big role in his team's success.

Accompanying Schlosser on his scouting trip Saturday, the day after Central Catholic exploded for a 94-51 romp over Lehighton, were jayvee coach Charlie Post, freshman coach George Baurkot and the Rev. Robert Dreisbach, whose scouting two years ago was a big factor in CCHS winning the state championship.

Schlosser said his East Penn Conference champion Vikings (27-3) aren't a bit nervous, just anxious to keep playing. The Vikings have won 15 in a row, a CCHS record for boys basketball. Now they need to win five more games in a row to be state titlists.

"We have been down this road before," the coach said, "and we want to remember that no opponent can be taken lightly. We are emphasizing the mental approach. There must be no letdown."

He said he will go along with his usual starters - Ed McCaffrey, Erik Smith, Keith Buchman, Matt Kalady and Dave Eddinger, with Frank Stalsitz first off the bench. McCaffrey and Smith are the leading scorers with 648 and 410 points, respectively, this winter.

The CCHS-Central York game will be the nightcapof a doubleheader. District 11's Lehighton (23-3) will go against Crestwood (15-10) of District 2 in the 7 o'clock opener.

Other Class AAA boys combat will pit District 11's Salisbury (20-7) against Bishop McDevitt (18-10) of District 3 at 8:30 in Cumberland Valley's gym.

Two District 11 Class A boys teams will take part in a twin bill at Panther Valley - Freeland (19-8) against RCA Development (14-4) of District 1 at 7 o'clock and Weatherly (19-7) against Trinity (16-10) of District 3 at 8:30. A third Class A contest this evening will send District 11's Jim Thorpe (17-6) against Lackawanna Trail (10-15) of District 12 at 8:30 in Dunmore.

Girls Class AAAA pairings will find District 11's Whitehall (25-1) against Cheltenham (22-4) of District 1 at 7:30 in Dieruff's gym; District 11's Allen (19-7) against Downingtown (26-3) of District 1 at 7:30 in Coatesville, and District 1's Quakertown (20-8) against Manheim Township (29-1) of District 3 at 8:30 in Lebanon.

Rounding out tonight's girls schedule will be Class AA competition listing District 11's Pine Grove (20-8) against Warrior Run (17-7) of District 4 at 7 o'clock in the first game of a doubleheader at North Schuylkill; District 11's Marian (25-3) against Hanover (23-5) of District 3 in the 8:30 contest at North Schuylkill, and District 11's Catasauqua (20-6) against York Catholic (21-5) of District 3 at 7 o'clock in Manheim Township's gym.

Allen's Lou Sabler feels much the same about the Chicks' opponent as Schlosser feels about the Vikings' opponent.

"Downingtown is darn good," Sabler said. "They are champions of their district and start a solid five players. We scouted them in their win against Lower Merion and they impressed me."

He said his girls must try to forget about their heartbreaking 43-40 loss to Whitehall last Friday and go about the business of seeking the state title.

"We are confident we can play against the best," Sabler said.

The Allen coach said he again will start Jane Tatum, Jen Leach, Jill Lipovsky, Teri Klein and Lori Stranzl. Tatum leads the Chicks in scoring with 385 points.

Whitehall's East Penn Conference and district champion Zephyrettes have an 18-game winning streak. The only team able to beat the Zephyrettes this season has been Altoona.

Coach Phil Armstrong of Whitehall figures Cheltenham will give his team plenty of problems.

"They are capable of playing great basketball," he said.

As for the Zephyrettes, Armstrong is looking for a better performance than the team gave him last week in district playoff games with Easton and Allen.

"We hit sort of a peak at the end of our league schedule but then a two- and-a-half week layoff did not help," the coach pointed out. "I think our girls now are starting to come back to that peak."

He will go along with usual starters Sue Fritch, Dana Piescienski, Chris Churetta, Marcy Berner and Kathy Hanosek. Fritch is the leader in points this season with 375 followed closely by Piescienski with 345.

Armstrong said two of his team's three goals have been achieved - titles in the East Penn Conference and District 11.

"Now we are setting out on a new goal - to win the state championship - and we certainly will give it our best shot."